Best Place to Exchange Money in Abu Dhabi

01Exchange

Where to change money in Abu Dhabi

Licensed exchange houses, found in malls, public markets and the airport, are the usual place to turn pounds into dirhams. Hotels change money too, but Visit Abu Dhabi, the official tourism site, calls their rates standard rather than competitive and says bureaux often beat the banks.

• Al Ansari Exchange ↗Besides Hamdan Street, Marina Mall on the Corniche breakwater and Yas Mall, its branches include Abu Dhabi Mall and The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. The Marina Mall and Yas Mall branches list 9am to midnight daily.
• LuLu Exchange ↗Branches around the city include one in Mushrif Mall on Airport Road, plus a 24-hour counter at the airport. According to the Integrated Transport Centre, LuLu Exchange branches also sell Hafilat bus cards.

02On arrival

Changing money at the airport

Abu Dhabi's airport became Zayed International Airport (still AUH) on 9 February 2024. Travelex's counters in the arrivals hall and baggage reclaim are open 24 hours, as is LuLu Exchange by Gate 4 on the Terminal A departure level; the airport asks to see your passport when you exchange. Travelex's arrivals ATMs pay out dirhams only, while its landside departures machines also offer US dollars, euros and pounds. Official airport taxis start the meter at AED 20.

03Cash machines and cards

ATMs and cards in Abu Dhabi

Card payment is routine, and cash machines are easy to find in malls, larger supermarkets, the airport and most petrol stations. The UAE government's visitor guidance says an ATM generally gives the best rate, even allowing for any conversion fee from your own bank, so check what your card charges abroad. Keep everything in dirhams: if a screen proposes sterling instead, decline, as that conversion usually costs more than your card provider's. Small notes are preferred in the souks and smaller shops.

04Getting around

Paying for transport in Abu Dhabi

Buses run on the Hafilat smart card, which you tap when boarding and again when getting off. An anonymous card costs AED 10 from ticket machines, LuLu Hypermarket or LuLu Exchange branches, or customer offices at bus stations and the airport; top it up at machines at stops, stations and some shopping centres, or on the Darbi website. Fares are AED 2 to board plus 5 fils a kilometre, capped at AED 5 a journey (fares can change). Silver taxis currently start at AED 5 by day or AED 5.50 from 10pm to 6am, add AED 1.82 a kilometre and charge at least AED 12.

05Local know-how

Good to know

• Tipping isn't expected but is common. Upmarket restaurants may add about 10% for service and a 6% tourism levy; where neither is on the bill, Visit Abu Dhabi suggests 10-15%.
• The dirham is pegged at AED 3.6725 to the US dollar, so its value against the pound moves with the dollar's.
• Cash, financial instruments, precious metals or gems worth more than AED 60,000 must be declared to customs when you enter or leave the UAE, online or in the Afseh app.